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Ukrainians rally against new law

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Story highlights

More than 40 protesters reportedly hospitalized following Sunday's clashes

Ukraine opposition leader calls on president to take part in negotiations

Thousands of demonstrators rally in defiance of new laws that set limitations on right to protest

Dozens of police, protesters injured in the violence, both sides say

Ukraine's capital remained in a tense standoff Monday following clashes between anti-government protesters and police that left dozens wounded.

Thousands of demonstrators packed Kiev's Independence Square in freezing temperatures Sunday, rallyingin defiance of new laws that set limitations on the right to protest.

Protesters and police accused each other of attacks during the large demonstration, which stretched into the early morning hours.

Ukraine's Interior Ministry said protesters, wearing masks and helmets, used flares, tear gas, baseball bats and stones in clashes with police, breaking doors and windows on police buses and trying to take over government buildings.

Some 100 police officers were injured, with more than 60 hospitalized, according to the Interior Ministry press office.

Photos:Photos: Ukraine protests

Photos:Photos: Ukraine protests

Ukraine protests – Newlyweds Mikhail and Margarita Nakonechniy kiss in front of barricades on Independence Square in a gesture of support for pro-Europe activists in Kiev, Ukraine, on Saturday, December 21. Protesters have poured into the streets of the Ukrainian capital, angered by their government's move away from the European Union in favor of closer ties with Russia.

Ukraine protests – A girl wearing a traditional Ukrainian wreath attends an opposition rally in Independence Square on December 17.

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Ukraine protests – A young girl stands next to police officers guarding the presidential offices in central Kiev on December 17.

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Ukraine protests – Protesters sit behind wood bricks in Independence Square on December 17. Written on the bricks are names of Ukrainian settlements whose inhabitants are taking part in the demonstrations.

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Ukraine protests – Flowers are stuck on barriers in front of Ukrainian Interior forces guarding Kiev's administrative district on December 17.

Ukraine protests – Activists warm themselves beside a bonfire as they guard barricades at Independence Square on Monday, December 16.

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Ukraine protests – Pro-EU activists cook during a rally in Independence Square on Sunday, December 15.

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Ukraine protests – U.S. Sens. John McCain, center, and Chris Murphy, right, join Ukrainian opposition leader Vitali Klitschko during a mass rally at Independence Square on December 15. McCain told protesters seeking closer ties with Europe, "The free world is with you, America is with you."

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Ukraine protests – An estimated 200,000 pro-EU activists gather during a rally in Independence Square on December 15.

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Ukraine protests – People sing, shout slogans and wave Ukrainian and EU flags during a mass rally in Independence Square on December 15.

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Ukraine protests – Pro-EU activists wave flags around the monument to the founders of Kiev during a rally in Independence Square on December 15.

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Ukraine protests – A couple of pro-EU activists share a tender moment at a tent camp in Kiev on December 15.

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Ukraine protests – Pro-EU activists, one waving the EU flag, gather during a rally in Kiev on December 15.

Ukraine protests – A protester shouts slogans and waves a flag of the Batkivshchyna party during a protest near the Ukrainian Security Service building in Kiev on December 15.

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Ukraine protests – Ukrainian opposition supporters gather at a mass rally in Kiev on December 15.

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Ukraine protests – Demonstrators by the thousands rally in Independence Square on Saturday, December 14.

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Ukraine protests – People go through a police line separating the competing rallies of opposition protesters in Independence Square and supporters of Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych in Kiev on December 14.

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Ukraine protests – Supporters of the president wave flags of the ruling Party of Regions, as well as Ukrainian flags, during a rally on Kiev's European Square on December 14.

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Ukraine protests – Anti-government protesters guard a barricade designed to keep police from evicting them from Independence Square on Friday, December 13.

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Ukraine protests – Protesters stand at a barricade in Kiev on December 13.

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Ukraine protests – Protesters hold Ukrainian national flags as they picket the Ukrainian House during round-table talks between Yanukovych, former presidents and leaders of the opposition on December 13.

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Ukraine protests – Riot police storm barricades set up by pro-EU protesters in Independence Square on Wednesday, December 11.

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Ukraine protests – Riot police move against protesters on Independence Square around 2 a.m. December 11. U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry expressed "disgust" over the crackdown.

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Ukraine protests – A protester calls for attention inside Kiev's City Hall after riot police were forced out from blocking the front door on December 11.

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Ukraine protests – Police enter Independence Square on December 11.

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Ukraine protests – Riot police officers block the entrance of Kiev's City Hall as protesters pour water from windows and throw smoke grenades at them on December 11.

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Ukraine protests – A young police officer guards a roadblock on Institutskaya Street near the presidential area in Kiev on December 11.

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Ukraine under pressure01:44

More than 100 protesters were hurt, including some politicians, the protesters' medical service reported. Forty-two protesters were hospitalized, according to the city of Kiev's health care department.

Twenty people were arrested, but minor clashes between protesters and police continued Monday.

Opposition protesting new law

Sunday's protest marked the latest fallout over legislation that lawmakers loyal to Ukraine's pro-Russian President Viktor Yanukovych approved Thursday. Yanukovych signed it into law soon afterward.

In a statement published on his website late Sunday, Yanukovych said he was creating a working group to overcome the political crisis and had ordered it to meet with the opposition. A meeting was scheduled for Monday.

The events come in the wake of weeks of public protests after Yanukovych's decision in November to spurn a planned trade deal with the European Union and turn toward Russia instead.

The new law includes provisions barring people from wearing helmets and masks to rallies, and from setting up tents or sound equipment without prior police permission.

Opposition politicians have objected to the way that Yanukovych's Party of Regions pushed the bill through the parliament, the Verkhovna Rada.

Vitali Klitschko, an opposition leader and former heavyweight boxing champion, said the law -- which was adopted by a show of hands -- was "invalid," according to his UDAR party's website. He stood between the police and the crowd in the square, trying to prevent violence.

He called on Yanukovych to take part in the negotiations.

"It is vital that these negotiations bring real results, because they are the only way to get out of the conflict without its escalation," Klitschko said in a statement. "If the authorities break the word once again, escalation of the situation is inevitable."

EU foreign ministers and foreign relations chief Catherine Ashton, who traveled to Ukraine last year, discussed the situation in Brussels, Belgium, on Monday.

In a statement, the bloc expressed "deep concern" about the legislation and called for a democratic solution to the current political crisis.

"(The EU) calls on all actors to exercise restraint and on the authorities to fully respect and protect the peaceful demonstrators' right to assembly and speech, and the freedom of the press," it said. "All acts of violence must be duly investigated and those responsible brought to justice."

The White House urged all sides to "immediately de-escalate the situation."

"The increasing tension in Ukraine is a direct consequence of the government failing to acknowledge the legitimate grievances of its people. Instead, it has moved to weaken the foundations of Ukraine's democracy by criminalizing peaceful protest and stripping civil society and political opponents of key democratic protections under the law," Caitlin Hayden, spokeswoman for the White House National Security Council, said in a statement

"We urge the government of Ukraine to take steps that represent a better way forward for Ukraine, including repeal of the anti-democratic legislation signed into law in recent days, withdrawing the riot police from downtown (Kiev), and beginning a dialogue with the political opposition."

She said the U.S. would continue to consider additional steps -- including sanctions -- in response to the use of violence.

In December, despite weeks of protest by anti-government protesters, Yanukovych agreed to a deal with Russia's President Vladimir Putin for Moscow to buy Ukrainian debt and slash the price Kiev pays for its gas.

The tumult in Ukraine goes to the heart of its future ties with Russia and the rest of Europe. Ukraine is split between pro-European regions in the west and a more Russia-oriented east.

The protests have unfolded since November 21 when Yanukovych changed his stance on the EU trade pact, which had been years in the making.

The demonstrators say an EU agreement would open borders to trade and set the stage for modernization and inclusion. Ukraine's government said the terms needed to be renegotiated to better protect Ukrainians.